How to import illustrator files in photoshop (not so simple)

that’s what i don’t want. I don’t need smart object. So let say who buys my stuff do not have illustrator, do not know how to used, etc. It will not be able to modify the colors, shape etc of the smart objetc element. Now I understand the advantages to use smart objects but in this case its better to have photoshop paths.

Then I like to build my shapes in Illustrator and I hate Photoshop paths. So this was my problem. How to get the vector from illustrator with out loosing hours to drag and drop every elements, and convert the smart object to shape(I do not know if can be done but I don’t really care now). How to mantain the layers from Illustrator. ecc.

It turn out that Adobe has the knowledge to that but for some reason they spread it out between applications.

The funny thing is that if you separate your artwork on different layers in illustrator CS4 and then go File-Export-PSD, it will save a PSD file with all your layer structure intact.

yeap but they are not shapes but raster. That’s a big difference. Then you have to separate things, that means a lot of work. But that’s not important because illustrator will rasterize all, layers or not. And that sucks. I actually did a lot of tests and saving to psd from illustrator was one of them.

doru said
ok I have the impression that maybe I can’t explain myself very well or maybe someone don’t read all the text I writed.

but anyway I resolved the problem, it took me half a day but now its work.

its a rather stupid and expensive, you need illustrator, fireworks and photoshop.

first create your art in illustrator, then save.

open the ai file in fireworks

save as to a psd file

open the file in photoshop and voila’

you got a layered psd with all the shapes as paths and every illustrator layer as a group. Its not that nice?

Thank you all for your help!

Hi Doru

I know it was 3y ago but I’ve just run into the same problem which you had. It’s already CS6 and exporting multiple paths from IL to PS is still a pain in the ass. I’ve created quite complex object out of more than 600 paths and I wanted to give them final touch in PS.
Anyway I just wanted to say, thank you for the Fireworks-Middleman method!!!!!

Adobe just has too many products, not to make them compatible each other but just to have more number of products/industry landing. It is a big question how many years decades it will take for them just to have some basic vector support on Photoshop and few raster options on AI.

Before Macromedia acquisition, I thought Fireworks will someday replace PS but Adobe is too much dominating to kill more qualified products from competitors.

I wish we can see a vector preserved Stroke + Fill option will be available on Photoshop by the year 2022. Wait… it is still doubtful if it will even happen after 10 years.

I know it was 3y ago but I’ve just run into the same problem which you had. It’s already CS6 and exporting multiple paths from IL to PS is still a pain in the ass. I’ve created quite complex object out of more than 600 paths and I wanted to give them final touch in PS.
Anyway I just wanted to say, thank you for the Fireworks-Middleman method!!!!!

Here’s one trick that may be a solution.
We have: Illustrator with some vector objects and Photoshop where we need to keep that objects as separate shapes.
When we export from AI to psd – we get rasterized layers. Bad.
When we copy in AI and paste in PS – we can paste as one smart object or one shape with no separating into individual shapes. Bad.
We can use Fireworks in a chain Illustrator -> Fireworks -> Photoshop. But it’s not good because nobody wants to buy Fireworks just for transfer objects from AI to PS.

Ok.
Go to Illustrator. Keep opened the palette “Pathfinder”.
Click on each object which you want to get as a shape in Photoshop.
Remove any outline strokes, gradients, meshes and textures. You need to keep just only a solid color fill. On palette “Pathfinder” click right top arrow and select “Make compound shape”. Do it with all objects step-by-step.
Then File > Export… and select Photoshop .psd. Don’t worry about settings, just leave check box “Maximum Editability” checked.
Open this .psd in Photoshop. Voilà!!! You have all objects as a separate shapes in proper place with proper colors!
Just remember: no strokes, gradients and effects, only solid fill! And magic “Make compound shape”.
Try to do it and be happy as mine

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